Botany

The Department of Botany was started in July 1921. Right from the beginning the Department had devotional patronage of luminary Professor Birbal Sahni, FRS, who had earlier briefly served at Benaras Hindu University. He was ably assisted by untiring efforts of Drs S.K. Mukerjee, S.N. Das Gupta and S.K. Pande. Professor Sahni’s vision, efforts and insight zeal brought this Department and the University on international scientific map and became an international hub of Palaeobotanical researches. The teaching faculty of the Department with its unabashed and sustainable efforts had provided a sound base for teaching and research in almost all the disciplines. The department had well established and renowned units of Bryology, Phycology, Plant Breeding and Cytogenetics, Mycology and Plant Pathology, Plant Nutrition and Plant Virology. The academic output of this Department has brought laurels, reputation and excellence. The rich traditions and strongly knitted academic fabric as laid down by Late Professor Sahni was nurtured further by his successors Professors S.N. Das Gupta S.K. Pandey A.R. Rao, G.S. Verma, S.C. Agarwala, B.S. Trivedi, B.N. Prasad, C.P. Sharma, N.K. Mehrotra, H.N. Verma, C. Chatterjee, S.C. Srivastava, Dinesh Kumar, R.R. Singh,Y.K.sharma and Seshu Lavania (present Head).

Starting with a handful of teachers, at present this Department has a strong faculty comprising of 13 Professors, 06 Associate Professors and 01 Assistant Professor representing nearly all the specializations in the subject.

The Department, presently headed by Professor Seshu Lavania offers M.Sc courses in Botany, Plant Science, Environmental Science and Microbiology; Ph.D. courses in Botany and Environmental Science. The Ph.D programme is extended to Lucknow based research institutes of the CSIR, DST, and ICAR. Besides, the Department also runs a three year Undergraduate Course. In association with Academic Staff College of the University, the Department regularly conducts Refresher Courses for in-service teachers of Botany from different Universities and their associated colleges. Several research projects have been successfully executed in the department with financial support from UGC, ICAR, DBT, DST, DOE, MoEF, USPL-480-ICAR, UPCST, UPCAR, NHM, Govt of UP and NAIP. In 1979, the Department was identified as UGC Department for Special Assistance. Thrust areas identified in the IVth phase were Bryology, Plant Physiology and Nutrition, Cytology and Plant genetics, and Plant Virology. In 1990 it also qualified for support for the development of infrastructure under the COSIST programme. Fiscal support received under these programs, as also under research projects supported from time to time by different agencies helped the Department in generating facilities for advanced research. The Department has been recipient of DST-FIST financial support.

The present faculty of the Botany Department has a unique distinction of teaching and research in almost all the branches with a modern blend of infrastructural facilities. This reflected by the research output in the form of 1001 research publications and 02 patents.

Achievements :

Department of Botany, Lucknow University, takes pride in the fact that a collection of stamps was brought out by the Government of India to commemorate Professor Sahni’s contributions in Palaeobotany in his birth centenary year. Its illustrious alumni have received prestigious Padma Awards from the Government of India.

Its faculty has received Fellowships of National and International Academies/Societies:

Long-term projects were granted to this Department in view of the expertise available with the faculty members:

All India Co-ordinated Project on Taxonomy (AICOPTAX) of Bryophytes and Algae (sponsored by MoEF, 1999-2012)

All India Co-ordinated Research Project on `Micro and Secondary Nutrients and Pollutant Elements in Soils and Plants’ - Sanctioned to the Department by ICAR, New Delhi, in 1967, and has continued since. The project won the Chowdhary Devilal Outstanding AICRP Award.

Department of Botany was selected for financial support by UGC-SAP (1979-2010), DST-FIST (2004-2009), DST-PURSE (2012-2015, 2016-2019), and the department was accorded as a Centre of Excellence in 2015 by UP State Government.

Activities and Achievements:

Science Academies’ ‘Lecture Workshop’ organised during 13-14 November, 2017, Department of Botany, University of Lucknow, Lucknow. This workshop was attended by 248 students and teachers of University and local colleges.

Live Telecast of Hon’ble Prime Minister was shown to staff and students in the auditorium.

The Environmental Scientists from CSIR-NBRI conducted an orientation programme and quiz for the faculty and students of M.Sc (Botany, Plant Science and Environmental Science, both semesters) on the theme : ENVIS-NBRI, Green Planner and Ozone Day.

The Department is ranked Third in the University of Lucknow

Poornima Vajpayee has been awarded cash prize of her publication.

Amit Kumar has been awarded research student cash prize for his publication.

Environment Day celebrated and conducted a Social Awareness program.

Seshu Lavania has been elected as Secretary of The Indian Botanical Society.

U.C Lavania, CSIR Emeritus Scientist has been granted a US Plant Patent.